It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. Although the hot weather really isn’t for me and I won’t miss it, August has been full of creative opportunities. I achieved a personal milestone of being part of my first gallery exhibition. Gray Area Gallery hosted their debut group show, celebrating the work of 41 artists from across the UK. I was honoured that my mixed media concertina, The Family Run Cafe, was chosen to be a part of In The Grey Area. It was lovely to meet the other artists and see their inspiring work at the opening night.

Another highlight from this month was being a part of Lookout Fair, an illustration and art fair based in Cambridge and Norwich. We met so many talented illustrators and shared wonderful conversations about creativity, art supplies and life. What I especially loved about this fair was that all illustrators were encouraged to bring their sketchbooks to allow others to browse through. There is a vulnerability in leaving your sketchbooks open for people to see. It’s freeing to show people your process in its messy, half-finished glory. I left feeling appreciative of having a community, to be part of something and also inspired after being surrounded by so much kindness and creativity.

Just a year and a half ago, we were living in a part of Essex without the culture, independent businesses, or creative networks we’ve since found in our current city. It has really changed everything, not just for me but also for my partner. When we moved here, he joined a saxophone group, something he didn’t have access to before. Since then, he has participated in a few gigs with the group. It’s so joyful to see him play outside with others to harmonise with and an audience watching. In September, they will be performing at my favourite place in the city, The Plantation Garden. This event, combined with my recent fascination with vintage posters and magazine covers inspired me to create a self-initiated project, an advertising poster for the performance.

The layout and muted colour palette of vintage magazine covers was a huge inspiration for me. I also looked at Indian court paintings for reference, especially the flattened picture planes and shallow depth of field.

I visited the garden a few times to find elements I could use to represent it. It is difficult to capture the depth of the space, each time I visit I notice a new feature to include. It was impossible to include all of it in one piece.

I used tracing paper to piece together the artwork and finally caved and bought a light box to transfer my sketch onto the Daler Rowney Langton hot pressed watercolour paper. It’s so much easier than the various makeshift alternatives I’ve tried - tracing against the window, my iPad, and even a projector on the wall. The final illustration came together in acrylic gouache, coloured pencil, ink and water-soluble pastels.

The Plantation Garden was built in 1856 on the site of a former chalk quarry. As a result, it is sunken below ground level and enclosed by trees. The walls are made up of various mismatched stones and bricks which add unique textures. Pillars and arches are dotted around the garden showcasing their intricate forms, and it is home to many tropical and native plants. The main attraction, the gothic fountain, was restored by volunteers in the 80s. Each March an abundance of frogs can be seen gathered around the fountain!

Photos and words cannot fully portray what a unique space it is. Having it so close to our home is such a dream. If you are local, pop by to see the gig!

This summer, I challenged myself to really be in the moment, and celebrate these events I worked hard for. I struggle a lot with rumination and social anxiety, leading me to repeatedly analyse conversations and subtle shifts in people’s tone. I can’t say I was very successful, but it’s something I’m continually working on. Nevertheless, the sunflowers I planted in July are standing over 8 feet tall and blooming, marking a gradual end to summer. We are also still harvesting our home-grown tomatoes and blueberries, a sweet reward for getting through the heat. The late summer days have been slow and give lots to look forward, as I feel calmest during autumn. This year so far, I’ve noticed the shift in seasons so consciously and aim to really cherish my favourite time of year. Ending with some late summer shots from our garden below ☀️

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#13: illustrating a vintage style music poster

#12: on self doubt, confidence and finding community